St James' Church, Teignmouth

The red sandstone tower of St James' Church dominates Teignmouth's seafront like a Victorian sentinel. It's impossible to miss when you're wandering through town - that sturdy, no-nonsense structure sits right there among the Georgian terraces and gift shops, a proper working church that's been anchoring this corner of Devon since the 1820s.

Inside, it's surprisingly light and airy. The interior has that particular hush you get in seaside churches - clean lines, decent stained glass, and the kind of calm that feels earned after decades of Atlantic wind battering the walls outside. There's real character here rather than overwrought Victorian excess. You can spend twenty minutes looking properly, or five if you're just ducking in from the promenade.

It works best if you're actually interested in church architecture or local history. Kids won't find much to grab their attention unless they're the type who like exploring old buildings generally. Most visitors stumble in mid-afternoon while exploring the town itself - Teignmouth's got enough going on with the beach and coastal path that a church visit slots in naturally rather than being a destination in itself.

Admission appears to be free (though do check ahead), and you can pop in whenever the doors are open. It's a sensible addition to a longer Teignmouth afternoon, perhaps before or after tackling the seafront or heading inland towards Dawlish. If you're staying at Lady's Mile Holiday Park nearby, it's barely worth the short drive - the walk into town would be the thing anyway.